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Baringhup

Baringhup is a rural locality on the Loddon River, immediately north of the Cairn Curran reservoir and 10 km west of Maldon. The nearest provincial centre is Maryborough, 22 km to the south-west.

Baringhup was first known as Bryant’s Crossing, as there is a ford over the Loddon River nearby. A bridge was built in 1855, along with the opening of the Loddon Hotel and a blacksmith. A school was also opened in 1855.

In the early 1860s the name Baringhup was adopted, thought to be derived from an Aboriginal word meaning a place for drinking water. Prior to the formation of Maldon shire there was the Baringhup road board, and the name was joined with Maldon’s for the district’s agricultural society. Mount Baringhup is about 3 km south-east.

A library hall was opened in 1860. The area was beyond the mining districts, and depended on agriculture. In 1903 it was described in the Australian handbook:

In 1946 work was started on the Cairn Curran reservoir and when completed ten years later it inundated part of Baringhup. Raimond Gaita’s Romulus my father (1998) begins with Romulus living near the Cairn Curran works site.

A camping ground near the reservoir incorporates the old Loddon Hotel. There are also a cemetery, tennis courts, a hall and the school (16 pupils, 2014). Dairying and grazing are the main agricultural activities. For many years planning permission was sought for a 24-shed chicken broiler farm at Baringhup, despite community objections.